A Barwell strongman was left “gutted” after a torn bicep hampered his progress in the amateur England’s Strongest Man competition.

Dean Evans, 27, who trains at the Body Wise Gym in Hinckley, was in third place when his bicep muscle ripped flipping 400kg tyres.

He finished the competition in Hartlepool, on July 26, in sixth place and narrowly missed out on qualifying for the World Amateur Championships.

Speaking after the event he said: “I’m pretty gutted, I had third place in my hands too. Oh well, I guess I will have to settle for being the sixth strongest man this year. I’m now off to A&E to see if they can fix my arm. A massive thank you to my sponsors, Body Wise.”

The first event involved a 330kg deadlift and Dean finished third in the heat after he forced out four repetitions, but the referee disallowed one due to improper form.

The other events included a 300kg car lift, a 180kg stone atlas and a last man standing log lift.

The event followed on from a successful European competition where Dean finished 10th at the Summer Giant competition in Burnley on July 19.

The event saw 20 men from across Europe battle it out to be crowned the strongest man to win a cash prize.

He said: “Some of these men were absolute machines, I felt I was the smallest one there.

“But if you had said I can finish in the top 10 I’d bite your hand off, so I’m buzzing, some of these guys are right monsters.”